Gift of the
Egypt Exploration
Society, from their excavation at Qasr
Ibrim

EA 66708

Ancient Egypt and Sudan

Fragment of a multi-coloured woollen
rug

From a tomb at Qasr Ibrim,
EgyptCoptic period, 4th-6th century
AD

Possibly a schematic representation of a
garden

Ancient rugs are rarely found in Egypt. This
example is preserved to its full length, and the scheme of
decoration suggests that over half its width remains. The pile of
the rug was made using loops of
wool.

Along the length of
the rug is a border consisting of a row of triangular arches
supported on columns with bell-shaped capitals. Between the arches
are tall trees, perhaps palms. Under each arch is a tree, one of
two alternating types, both of which appear to have blossom on
them. In the centre of the rug is a red panel with a rectangular
frame of blue running waves. On the right are two rows of what may
be flowers. It is possible that the decoration was intended to
represent a garden.

The
colours used on the rug are comparable with late Classical and
early Christian subjects. The use of floral motifs in textiles can
be seen in examples from the Hellenistic period, but reach their
most elaborate and schematized form in the Coptic period. It is
likely that this rug was made within Egypt, and comparable examples
have been found at Antinoë on the east bank of the Nile and Bahnasa
on the west bank.